erik arthur nelson | CMU Robotics Institute

Hi, I'm Erik. I am a robotics M.S. student at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute, advised by Dr. Nathan Michael. Together we are investigating high-speed exploration and mapping with aerial vehicles (quadrotors) in the Robust Autonomous Systems Lab. I also hold a B.S. in materials engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While completing my physics, engineering, and materials science coursework I developed an interest in computer graphics and robotics on the side, and eventually decided to pursue that passion instead. Although my direction in engineering changed, I inherited many useful and transferrable tidbits of knowledge while studying materials.​My ultimate goal is to become a systems engineer, researching and working towards solving interesting problems that exist at the intersection of computer science, electronics, physics, mechanical engineering, and materials. Within robotics, my subdisciplinary interests lie in robotic exploration algorithms, information theory, and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM).

While some roboticists believe that battle scars from 11,000 RPM propellers are both inevitable and a requirement for those working in aerial robotics, I have had the fortune of conducting my research without procuring any. In any case, if you enjoy watching people get uncomfortably close to these flying death machines, I encourage you to visit my videos page!